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Families whose relatives buried in graves vulnerable to coastal erosion say that a lack of decision on how best to address the problem is causing them avoidable anguish concerning the eternal homes of their loved ones.

An Impending Danger to Historic Churchyards

The council have identified three church graveyards in the communities of Happisburgh, Trimingham, and Mundesley as being at risk of being engulfed by the sea in the coming decades.

A newly published study on the situation details a range of options, from taking no action to disinterring bodies and relocating them in more secure sites. Officials say it is for the community to decide how to move forward.

“At the moment we’re in a state of uncertainty. It causes me distress. They wanted this to serve as their last home, but it won't be because of the sea.”

Projections suggest at least a portion of one graveyard could fall into the sea in the next 80 years, but some residents worry it will happen far earlier. “I think it’s got under 20 years, if you look at what’s occurred in the last 30 years,” one said.

Troubled by the Ghosts of Eccles

One resident remembered a childhood visit to the neighbouring village of Eccles, which has almost entirely vanished into the water, along with its place of worship and burial ground.

“You could see people’s bones,” she said. “Certain people hold this idealized notion that people’s remains will just get washed out to sea. They won’t. Individuals will collect remains as mementos and go grave robbing looking for valuables. It’s completely undignified.”

“I fear that the same thing that befell at Eccles will occur here and there’ll be bones on the beach. I’d be appalled by that.”

A Soldier's Resting Place in Jeopardy

Along the coast lies the burial plot of a former paratrooper who died while working abroad. His parent said she lost sleep after discovering her son’s grave might one day be moved.

“It does trouble me to consider this won’t be his lasting home,” she said. “To our family it’s an important place to go.”

In her view, new interments should cease but says it is premature to exhume existing graves. “My preference for now is to do nothing and closely monitor, but an early decision must be made when a critical moment has been attained.”

Seeking Solutions and Certainty

The lack of agreement over the timing and method to tackle the problem has resulted in bereaved families feeling frustrated and anxious.

Some are calling for more sea defences to slow the unavoidable loss and to allow burials to proceed for now. Different voices argue the time for moving graves is approaching.

“The situation is very emotional,” said one relative. “The council’s report was really good, but now there’s confusion about how it is implemented. And all parties is washing their hands over who is responsible.”

A local official said the burial sites were owned and managed of the local diocese. “Ultimately it is down to them to choose the direction to take. Our role is here to help support them through that process with communities.”

It was also stated there was time to weigh all the choices. “This concerns decades before it starts to be lost.”

“There is no unified opinion on what should be done yet. It requires good community discussions to discover the right solutions for each village.”

The prospect of the loss of the churches and graveyards was described as one of “immense sorrow for the local community,” but faith leaders also referenced a belief in resurrection, offering a theological viewpoint on the temporal disappearance of hallowed earth.